Cincinnati sold Phil Jordon to the New York Knicks on January 18, 1961 for cash. Basketball-Reference's Royals, Knicks and league transaction ledgers all preserve the same date and sale structure. Jordon immediately became New York's starting-caliber center for the rest of 1960-61, averaging 13.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 31 games, then played 76 more games for the Knicks in 1961-62 at 11.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Across those two seasons he gave New York 107 regular-season games before the Knicks moved him in September 1962. The public ledgers do not preserve the cash amount Cincinnati received. Retrospectively, buying more than a season and a half of useful center production for cash clearly favors New York.
Cincinnati sold Phil Jordon to New York for cash on January 18, 1961. The Royals, Knicks and league ledgers agree on the transaction. Jordon immediately took a large role for a New York team that needed interior production, rather than arriving as a speculative end-of-roster purchase.
Jordon averaged 13.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 31 games after the sale, then played 76 more games in 1961-62 at 11.9 points and 6.3 rebounds. Across a season and a half, New York received 107 regular-season games before moving him in September 1962.
The surviving public records do not identify the amount paid. The Royals may have had sound financial or roster reasons for selling, but there is no player or pick return to compare with Jordon's production. The absence of a price warrants restraint on Cincinnati's grade, not neutrality about the on-court outcome.
New York converted cash into a starting-caliber center who contributed immediately and remained useful for another full season. That is substantially more value than most cash purchases in this portion of the archive. Even without the sale price, the verified playing return makes the Knicks the clear winner.
Knicks Win — New York A-, Cincinnati C+. Phil Jordon gave New York 107 games and starting-level center production for an undisclosed cash price.